Aussie Miller ruled out of Aragon MotoGP

A broken hand will force Australia's Jack Miller to miss a third MotoGP race in six weeks.

Miller's team Marc VDS has ruled him out of this weekend's Aragon Grand Prix to give him time to properly recover from two fractures in his right hand, suffered in a warm-up crash in mid-August.

He will be replaced by former MotoGP world champion and current world superbike front-runner Nicky Hayden.

Miller sat out the August 14 race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria and the following Czech Grand Prix, with back and wrist injuries arising from his high-speed fall.

The 21-year-old pushed on to finish 16th in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but was a late withdrawal from last week's San Marino GP.

"Additional medical checks carried out immediately after the San Marino race revealed Miller has been riding with two fractures in his right hand," the team said in a statement.

"The constant stress on the hand while riding has slowed the healing process and Miller, in consultation with HRC and the team has decided the most appropriate course of action is to miss this weekend's Motorland Aragon encounter."

The team hopes the week off will give Miller the best possible chance to be fit in time for next month's three flyaway rounds - including the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

"Obviously we'd have preferred Jack to be racing in Aragon, but it's the racing that is stopping the two fractures in his hand healing properly," said team principal Michael Bartholemy said.

"It makes sense to have him sit out this race in a bid to recover ahead of the three overseas races, one of which is his home race in Australia."

Hayden, 35, said he wished Miller a speedy recovery.

"He is a buddy of mine and he is a rider I believe in a lot, so I hope he can get healthy as quickly as possible to show the high potential we all know he has got," America's 2006 title winner said.

"He just needs to get his body right so he can perform."